Cook intends to work with Graham Gooch despite playing key role in 'icon's' axing

England Test and ODI captain Alastair Cook has said that he still intends to work with Graham Gooch despite playing a key role in the sacking of his mentor from the post of the national team's batting coach.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed this week that Gooch has been axed from his post as batting coach under returning head coach Peter Moores.

Gooch said that Cook, whom he has known since the left-hander had been making his way at Essex, had informed him that he favoured the change in the coaching staff, News.com.au reported.

However, the England captain, who is an opening batsman like Gooch, said that he still intends to work with the former national team captain, adding that all the English players hold him in high regard.

Cook said that he has got huge amount of respect for Gooch and for what the former batsman has done for English cricket over a huge amount of time, not just as a players but as a coach.

The skipper said that for him, to still have Gooch in his corner, go back to him, talk cricket and work on his game like Cook has always done.

Gooch started reportedly working as a part-time batting consultant in November 2009 for England before taking on a full-time role in 2012.

The ECB sacked Gooch after England failed to make the benchmark total of 400 in a Test innings since March 2013 and they still have to make an announcement regarding his replacement, the report added.